It would seem that the the anomalous research field has comparatively few serious and grounded researchers and spokespersons. The field at large attracts some of the most far-out-on-the-fringe people imaginable--many with seemingly high credibility. Take this recent news story for example:

“There are no experts on the paranormal” is a common sentiment among those involved in paranormal research, most notably among prominent names in the ghost hunter segment of the field. Interestingly, I personally have yet to hear the same statement from anyone in the UFO field. This expression seems to make sense and sounds so good. But does it really hold water?

Do “Experts” Know Everything?According to the dictionary, the word “expert” is defined as “a person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject.”(1) Notice that the definition does not say “someone who knows everything about a certain subject.” It is clear from this definition that a person would simply need to have a “high degree of skill or knowledge of a certain subject” to be considered an “expert.”

Even though I have been outspoken in my articles and on ParaNexus Universe Radio, I am not a paranormal debunker or a paranormal negativist (and no, I don’t play one on TV). I am a serious anomalous researcher who has observed a growing number of websites and media stories featuring photos and videos of so-called paranormal phenomena that is dubious at best, and fabricated at worst. I am perplexed at the sheer number of paranormal hobbyists who post misidentified natural phenomena as paranormal in nature, and worse yet, who promote fear in others—especially their clients—and end up doing more harm than good.

Whether we like it or not, Internet sites such as YouTube can exert a powerful force in shaping public opinion regarding paranormal phenomena, and serious researchers have a responsibility to mitigate...